Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced that Coe-Brown seniors Zach Rheaume of Barrington and Jake Scarponi, also of Barrington, have been named Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Rheaume and Scarponi join approximately 16,000 other Semifinalists nationwide in this 61th annual Merit Scholarship Program. Rheaume and Scarponi along with these other academically talented students, have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements including submitting a detailed application and essay to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Congratulations to Zach Rheaume and Jake Scarponi on this achievement.

Steve Wronker’s Funny Business, a comedy hypnosis extravaganza, will arrive at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy on Friday, September 11, 2015, at 7 pm in the Gerrish Gym on the CBNA campus. Steve Wronker is a unique entertainer with a unique slant on the most hilarious, the most outrageous, and the funniest form of comedy available in today’s entertainment market, and the SWFB comedy hypnosis show is extremely different from any other hypnosis show available. Audience members become the stars of the show. A true entertainer, Steve puts audience volunteers into his show and orchestrates a program of absolute hilarity! With over 300 family friendly routines to choose from, no two shows are alike! The show is being sponsored by CBNA Theatre and is a CBNA Homecoming weekend event. Tickets are $10 general admission and will be available at the door on the night of the show. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained when you attend Steve Wronker’s Funny Business at CBNA on September 11!

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy is pleased to announce that our Third Annual Homecoming weekend will be celebrated on Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, 2015. The weekend will kick off with “Red and White” day for students on Friday, followed by a family friendly Comedy Hypnosis Show by Steve Wronker’s Funny Business at 7 pm ($10) in the Gerrish Gym. A full day of fantastic family activities is planned across the campus for Saturday the 12th including athletic events: Bass Fishing at 8 am, Cross Country vs. Portsmouth at 9 am, Girls JV/V Soccer vs. Portsmouth at noon, Boys JV/V Soccer vs. Portsmouth at 2 pm and Girls R/JV/V Volleyball vs. Oyster River.at 2:30, 3:45, and 5. To get the day started, FCCLA will cooking a Pancake Breakfast in the Dining Hall from 8 am to 10 am. Tickets for the breakfast are $8 at the door, or contact Mrs. Morales at amorales@coebrown.org (603) 942-5531 for discounted presale tickets. A new event this year is a Homecoming Car Show from 10 am to 2 pm sponsored by the Class of 2016 (contact Mrs. Morales for registration information for this event as well). The Northwood Fire Department will be on hand for a Touch-A-Truck event from 10 to 2. In addition, there will be booths and carnival games sponsored by many of CBNA’s classes and school organizations including FFA Alpaca Bingo, an FFA Woodman’s demo, a FCCLA raffle booth and a demo by Quest Martial Arts. There will also be many yummy concessions offered throughout the day. Homecoming will culminate with a black and white semi-formal dance sponsored by the senior class for current students from 7 – 10 pm ($7). For more information about any of the events, contact the school at 603-942-5531. Whether you attend Homecoming every year or have never been, this is the year to check it out! Hope to see you there.

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy is pleased to introduce the newest members of its staff for the 2015-2016 school year.

Peter Attisano joins the CBNA staff as a paraprofessional. Mr. Attisano is a graduate of Plymouth State University and this is his first year in education.

Jennifer Burns joins the CBNA faculty as a Guidance Counselor. Ms. Burns received a BA from the University of New Hampshire and an M. Ed. in School Counseling from Salem State University. She starting her 6th year in education and is looking forward to attending sports games and getting involved with the CBNA community.

Sarah Fenerty is the newest member of CBNA’s English department and comes to CBNA with degree from University of New Hampshire. A graduate of CBNA, Ms. Fenerty will be teaching Freshman English and Senior English. She hope to be involved with the various writing clubs and eventually to start a school spirit club.

Joel Kutylowski joins the CBNA staff as a paraprofessional. Mr. Kutylowski is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and of CBNA. In his second year in education, he will be advising the Project Success study program.

Jacqueline Lambert also joins the CBNA staff as a paraprofessional. Ms. Lambert is a graduate of CBNA and the New Hampshire Technical Institute and this marks her first year in education

PRESS RELEASE: This year has been a very busy year for Coe-Brown Northwood Academy’s chapter of Family Career and Community Leaders of America. FCCLA, formally FHA, is the only career and technical organization that focuses on family. Student members and officers of this organization believe in the need for strong families in our society and many plan to enter into careers relating to the fields of social work, psychology, education, and culinary arts

In September, CBNA FCCLA hosted the Homecoming Pancake Breakfast, which was a great success in its first year. Later in the fall, the chapter helped Meraya Knight with her Stuff-a-Bus food drive for End 68 Hours of Hunger, an organization that provides food for the weekends to local children in need. This event began a relationship between the two organizations. CBNA FCCLA has been volunteering one week per month to pack the bags for the End 68 Hours of Hunger program that serves Northwood, Nottingham and Strafford.

CBNA FCCLA was also represented in April at the NH FCCLA Spring Conference at Attitash. The following students competed at the state level and qualified to compete at the National FCCLA conference in July: seniors Claire Decker and Debbie Peabody received gold for Promote and Publicize; senior Allison Jones (Epsom) received silver in Recycle and Redesign; senior Kayla Williamson (Strafford) received silver in Teach and Train; senior Meraya Knight received silver in the category of National Programs in Action; senior Austin Anderson received silver in Life Event Planning; and juniors Jolene Levesque (Northwood), Densi van Gerena (Northwood), and Nicole Hodgdon (Strafford), received silver for State Display. All chapter members and officers who attended Spring Conference also worked extremely hard as volunteers to help the conference run smoothly and represented Coe-Brown with great pride.

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter participated in the FBLA State Leadership Conference which was held at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester on March 31 and April 1, 2015. Students competed in many business related areas and received several awards and recognitions. A Chapter Award for Who’s Who in FBLA went to junior Brittany Guillemette of Strafford for her work in Breast Cancer Awareness, and the whole chapter received an Honorary Chapter Award for the number of activities they have participated in throughout the year. The Marketing Team of Brittany Guillemette, junior Nicole Beaupre of Northwood and junior Meghan Percy of Barrington received a medal for third place, and each received a $1,000 scholarship to SNHU. Other awards included an honorable mention in Introduction to Communications for freshman Nate Schroeder, of Strafford. Taylor Richardson, a senior from Strafford placed third in the state in Business Procedures and Maxim Begin, a freshman from Northwood, placed third in Business Math. Others who attended and competed were senior Alex Yonchak from Strafford in Impromptu Speaking, senior Cody Vaughn from Northwood in Client Services, and senior Lauren Velleca from Northwood in Accounting. Every student who received an award is eligible to compete in Chicago, Illinois, at the National FBLA Convention in their respective areas later this year.

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy is proud to announce the top ten graduates for the Class of 2015.

The Valedictorian for the class of 2015 is Sarah Curtin, daughter of Mike and Nancy Curtin of Strafford. During her high school career Sarah has been a member of the CBNA soccer, basketball and track and field teams. She has also been a member of the National Honor Society, and Peer Helpers. Sarah has been accepted to Quinnipiac University, St. Anselm’s College and St. Joseph’s College. She plans to pursue a degree in nursing.

The 2015 Salutatorian is Katheryn Huckins, daughter of Matthew and Anne Huckins of Strafford. While at Coe-Brown, Katheryn has been a member of the Project Search, the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society and Paragon Literary and Art Magazine. Katheryn has been accepted to Boston University and Northeastern University. She plans to major in engineering.

The remaining top ten graduates are listed in alphabetical order:

Joshua Conrad, son of Greg and Nora Conrad of Northwood, has been a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and the Varsity Soccer and Tennis teams. He has been accepted to Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University and McGill University. Joshua plans to attend McGill University to study biology, biochemistry and life science in a pre-med program next year.

Caitlin Foley, daughter of Sean Foley and Michelle Halligan Foley of Strafford, has been involved in the National Latin Honor Society, and Peer Helpers, and a member of the CBNA softball team while a student at Coe-Brown. She has been accepted to Clarkson University where she plans to pursue a career in engineering.

Aurora Goodwin, daughter of Nicole Toy and Nathan Goodwin, is a member of the National Honor Society, the National French Honor Society, Peer Helpers, a Writing Center Consultant and is currently the secretary of the senior class. She has also been a member of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams. Aurora plans to attend Clarkson University to pursue a career in engineering.

Garrett Kunz, son of Fred and Betsey Kunz of Northwood, has been a member of CBNA’s tennis and soccer teams during his years at the Academy. Garrett has also been active with Peer Helpers, the National Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society. He has been accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology and Clarkson University and plans to pursue a future in engineering.

Ashley LeBlanc, daughter of Yvette and Gregory LeBlanc of Northwood, has participated in CBNA school life by being a member of the basketball and soccer teams, the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, CBNA Today, FFA and currently serves as class vice president. She plans to attend the University of New Hampshire to pursue a degree in health management and policy.

Benjamin Porter, son of Staci and Robert Porter of Nottingham, has been a member of the CBNA basketball and golf teams as well as being a member of the National Honor Society and Peer Helpers. He has been accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as well as California Polytechnic State University. Benjamin plans to attend California Polytechnic State University to major in aerospace engineering.

Cassandra Rogers, daughter of Jo-Ann and Richard Rogers of Barrington, has been a member the National Honor Society, Project Search, Tri-M, the CBNA Pep and Jazz Bands, Paragon Literary and Art Magazine and is a Writing Center Consultant. She has been accepted to the University of Massachusetts, the University of Vermont and Boston University. Cassandra will be attending Boston University to pursue a degree in biology/pre-med.

Nicole Torosian, daughter of Mr. Lindsey Torosian and Mrs. Cynthia Torosian of Northwood, has been a member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, Project Search, Peer Helpers and Paragon Literary and Art Magazine. Nicole plans to attend Cornell University and will be pursuing a degree in chemical engineering.

CBNA Theatre to Present In a Grove: Four Japanese Ghost Stories March 6 & 7

The Oni chorus in In a Grove rehearses a scene entitled The Oni Dilemma.

CBNA Theatre will present In a Grove: Four Japanese Ghost Stories by Eric Coble on March 6, 2015 at 7 pm and on March 7, 2015 at 12 pm and 3 pm in the Gerrish Gym on the Coe-Brown Northwood Academy campus. The story begins with Obosan, a traditional Japanese priest, who steps forward from the darkness. He explains that where we now see a grove of trees, bushes, and grassy hills, was once the village of Kogisu, and Obosan was once the village priest. Where did all the people go? What happened to the homes and shops and pathways? Obosan promises to answer all of these questions in four tales as he takes us back in time hundreds of years to watch the supernatural history – and ultimate destruction – of an entire village. Leading the cast is sophomore Cassandra Barnhart as Obosan. The rest of the cast includes seniors Olivia Anatone, Kyle Bousquet, Sophia Chartier, Rachel Dallaire, Hannah Grady, Dylan Groves, Lizzie MacEachern, Jordan Roach, Colton Rush, and Alec Schleich; juniors Janais Axelrod, David Coe, Jessica Cooper, Isaac Guzofski, Damian May, Jared Neal, Stosh Szatko, Emily Therrien, and Ryan Wadleigh; sophomores Sierra Brady, Lauren Burrows, Camryn Chick, Joe Guptill, Arianna Jones, and Kelsey Wallace; and freshmen Sandra Black, Erin Boodey, Zachary Helm, Nina Laramee, Cailinn Monahan, Kayla Pollak, Allison Rose, and Courtney Snow. The production is directed by faculty member Elizabeth Lent with assistance from faculty member Kolby Hume. Reserved tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and are available after March 2 by calling 942-5531 ext. 237, by email – elent@coebrown.orgor at the CBNA main office. Tickets will also be available at the door.

On Saturday, February 7th, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy hosted the 2015 Special Olympics of New Hampshire Seacoast Area Winter Games. A proud tradition for about a decade, these games were finally held again after three years of cancellation due to lack of snow and poor field conditions. About 200 Special Olympics athletes from many teams around the state competed in cross-country ski and snowshoe events ranging from 10 to 7,500 meters in length. Event coordinator and faculty member Shawn White and Special Olympics Field Coordinator Miranda Morse would like to thank the many Coe-Brown faculty, staff, and student volunteers whose efforts both ensured and enhanced the success of this event. They would also like to thank the Northwood Crankpullers Association for helping to pack down snow on the race tracks, and Bryana Clark of Exeter, our current Miss New Hampshire Teen National, for joining us. We look forward to next year’s games.